Garrigues Mexico > Mexico City, Mexico > Firm Profile

Garrigues Mexico > The Legal 500 Rankings

Mexico > International trade and customs Tier 2

Garrigues Mexico is admired for its ‘excellent service’ in international trade and customs matters where it advises numerous multinationals on the full suite of cross-border operations in both an advisory and contentious capacity. Import/export matters and customs and administrative litigation are among the standout strengths for the practice group. The 10-strong team is co-led by Eduardo Sotelo-Cauduro, who has experience in complex litigation deriving from international trade and customs matters; and José Alberto Campos, an expert in transactions and cross border operations regarding Mexican free trade agreements, import duties and customs. Key support is provided by senior associates María Luisa Mendoza and Juan Carlos Jimenez in Mexico City and Querétaro, respectively. Former practice co-head Turenna Ramírez-Ortiz and associate Cinthia Hernández departed the firm in April 2023, since when the firm has hired former Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C.-partner Roberto Serralde (international trade and customs; and tax advisory, controversy, compliance and planning) as an additional departmental lead - effective as of September 2023. Since publication, the firm has merged into Garrigues Mexico local office to become Garrigues Mexico Mexico - effective as of July 2024.

Mexico > Labour and employment Tier 2

Garrigues Mexico’s labour and employment group has strong relationships with the in-house legal and human resources departments of major domestic and international clients, and acts on complex cases involving union negotiations, as well as ongoing day-to-day issues such as employment agreements, terminations, and fringe benefit planning. The practice has a robust litigation arm, and the firm also supports clients on immigration matters. Practice head Alfredo Kupfer-Dominguez has broad experience across the corporate and labour areas, and is instructed on core labour and employment law matters, as well as being the firm’s go-to lawyer for relevant support to M&A and other transactional matters. Senior associate support comes from the firm’s satellite offices: in Queretaro, Fermin Lecumberri-Cano and Sebastian Rosales-Ortega act for national and foreign clients, with Rosales-Ortega being in charge of individual and collective litigation in the Bajio region. Monterrey-based Francisco Garcia-Lerma left the firm in April 2023. Since publication, the firm has merged into Garrigues Mexico local office to become Garrigues Mexico Mexico – effective as of July 2024.

Mexico > Tax Tier 2

Drawing on the international know-how and insight into the Mexican tax regime derived from its members’ experience at global law and accounting firms and the Mexican tax administration, the tax department at Garrigues Mexico is adept in audits and litigation, as well as the provision of relevant support on cross-border transactions involving tax treaty interpretation, transfer pricing and foreign tax credit matters. Senior partner Ricardo León Santacruz focuses on Mexican inbound and outbound tax planning and transfer pricing. Santacruz is one of the group’s five practice heads, alongside Guillermo Villaseñor Tadeo, who in his time at the firm has spearheaded the contentious side of the practice; Querétaro office-head Abel Mejía, an expert in advising HNWIs, foreign multinationals and Mexican financial and corporate institutions; Mexico City office-head Mariana Eguiarte-Morett, who, alongside a broad transactional offering, has also developed a niche practice in consumption taxes; and Luis Antonio González, whose main focus is on Mexican MNE’s outbound work and foreign multinationals’ inbound matters, particularly those that refer to related party transactions and international taxation. Pedro Miranda in Querétaro is a further key figure, while at the senior associate level, Emilio Garcia V and Jorge López are the names to note. Since publication, both García and López have been raised to the partnership – effective as of December 2023; however, García subsequently left the firm in March 2024. In July the firm announced its merger into Garrigues Mexico local office to become Garrigues Mexico Mexico - a process due for completion by December 2024.Garrigues Mexico stands out for its prowess and experience in tax controversies, and has recently gone from strength-to-strength in transfer-pricing advice. The firm’s  international presence makes it a strong choice for cross-border matters, particularly those emanating from Spain, and its client base of international companies often instruct the team on corporate tax matters too. Manuel Llaca leads the department and has more than 25 years' experience across tax litigation, transfer pricing and federal tax disputes. Counsel Francisco Barajas is a specialist in domestic tax matters and in resolving issues before the tax authorities; his practice encompasses consulting and controversies. Principal associate Ricardo Fernández de Arellano is especially strong in cross-border work involving Mexico, Spain and the US; and senior associate Iñigo García is the main support on transfer pricing matters. Since publication, the firm has announced its absorption of Garrigues Mexico Mexico to become Garrigues Mexico Mexico - a process due for completion by December 2024.

Mexico > Wealth management Tier 2

Garrigues Mexico is a strong choice for HNWIs and families looking for tax and legal planning advice on the transfer of domestic and international assets. International tax planning specialist Abel Mejía is the main contact at the Queretaro office and is well-versed in various kinds of advice to individuals, including pre-migration tax planning to other countries, international patrimonial structures incorporating corporate-family governance protocols, and inheritance transmission. He co-leads the team along with two Monterrey-based fellow co-heads: ‘first-class advisor’ Ricardo León, who has broad tax expertise and is a regular advisor to wealthy families on their tax affairs; and corporate law and project finance partner Ernesto Silvas. Raised to the partnership in December 2023, Jorge López is a tax specialist who is frequently involved in wealth planning matters. Since publication, the firm has announced it's merger into Garrigues Mexico local office to become Garrigues Mexico Mexico - effective as of July 2024.

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 3

The 15-strong team at Spanish firm Garrigues Mexico’ Mexico office specialises in project financing, structured financing and commercial bank lending, and has additional experience across a diverse range of financing matters; it can also leverage the firm’s international presence to handle complex cross-border transactions. The practice is led by Mario Juárez, who has long-standing experience in project finance and infrastructure projects. Gabriela Pérez Sierra has substantial expertise in M&A and financings for energy and infrastructure projects, while Leopoldo Fragoso works on securities and asset financing transactions; senior associate Carlos Eduardo Gómez supports the partners on key matters. The group was notably strengthened with the March 2023 hire of veteran banking, finance and capital markets’ specialist, Manuel Groenewold – formerly of White & Case S.C. Since publication, the firm has announced its absorption of Garrigues Mexico to become Garrigues Mexico Mexico - a process due for completion by December 2024.Operating from branches in Mexico City, Querétaro and Monterrey, Garrigues Mexico’s banking and finance practice advises banks, borrowers and investors on cross-border loans, financing, commercial banking and credit facilities. Three partners head up the practice: Ernesto Silvas-Medina – in Monterrey – has a background in corporate and project finance; Diego Gómez-Haro Katznelson focuses on real estate financing and leads from Querétaro; and José Berrueta Ochoa, who joined the team in June 2022, brings expertise in finance and capital markets to the Mexico City office. Former Monterrey-based senior associate Jaime Israel Moreno-Treviño left the firm in April 2023. Since publication, the firm has announced its merger into Garrigues Mexico local office to become Garrigues Mexico - a process due for completion by December 2024.

Mexico > Compliance Tier 3

The practice group at Garrigues Mexico advises corporate clients on internal investigations and regulatory audits, undertakes compliance risk assessments, and offers counsel on local and international anti-money laundering regulations. Despite the departure of former Monterrey-based department lead Humberto Morales-Barron in April 2023, the practice continues to count on the capabilities of two practice heads based in Querétaro: Daniel Maldonado-Alcantara, who has extensive experience in complex automotive and retail sector compliance investigations, and José Alberto Campos Vargas, who regularly advises clients from the healthcare, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage sectors on import-export operations. Senior associates Oscar Quiroz and Alberto Lascurain also left the group in April 2023. Since publication, the firm has merged into Garrigues Mexico local office to become Garrigues Mexico Mexico - effective as of July 2024.

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Garrigues Mexico harnesses the bench strength of offices in Mexico City, Monterrey and Querétaro to advise local and international corporates involved in multi-jurisdictional transactions, across a range of industry sectors, including telecoms, manufacturing, medical devices, IT, chemicals, and food and beverages. The team’s broad service offering takes in M&A, investment and divestment operations, restructurings, the purchase and sale of entities and assets, due diligence and regulatory compliance, among other matters. Monterrey office-head Ernesto Silvas-Medina primarily advises clients on inbound and outbound acquisition transactions and equity joint ventures. Working out of the Mexico City and Querétaro offices, Diego Gómez-Haro (who served as the general counsel of The Blackstone Group in Mexico prior to joining the firm), brings extensive experience to assisting multinationals, private equity investors and sponsors on acquisitions and investments in the domestic market. Also in Mexico City, Jose Antonio Postigo-Uribe can draw on over 20 years’ experience of major transactional matters and negotiations with governmental entities; while Daniel Maldonado-Alcántara (corporate M&A, foreign investment and antitrust) and Yutaka Kimura (who has a labour and employment aspect to his corporate practice), are also noted. At associate level, senior Marisol González-Echevarría advises clients on sales, spin-offs and the liquidation of companies. However, former Monterrey-based partners Gerardo Prado-Hernandez, Francisco Andrés Gámez Garza  and Humberto Morales-Barron all left the firm in March 2023, and Cristina Sanchez-Vebber  left to establish her own practice in August the same year. Since publication, both González-Echevarria and fellow senior associate Debby Mckey (M&A, divestitures, corporate restructuring, joint ventures and financings, among other matters), have been promoted to the partnership - with effect from January 2024. The firm has subsequently  announced its merger into Garrigues Mexico local office to become Garrigues Mexico - a process due for completion by December 2024.The local Mexican office of Spanish full-service giant, Garrigues Mexico, fields a 14-strong corporate and M&A practice which was notably strengthened in March 2023 with the hire of banking, securities and M&A practitioner Manuel Groenewold fr0m White & Case S.C.. Steadily building its market presence, the practice has to some extent sought to focus on sectors such as consumer goods, education and health. Recent matters include handling the Mexican aspects of a pair of transactions on behalf of Accenture: one, the acquisition of Austin-based cloud and platform engineering services firm, Headspring; the other the purchase of Alfa Consulting Group. The practice is led by Gerardo Lemus – who focuses on corporate and real estate matters (along with issues such as corporate governance, commercial contracts, and merger-control filings and notifications), in conjunction with Gabriela Pérez Sierra, who has a certain focus on energy project and fintech transactions. Energy head David Jiménez Romero brings further partner-level M&A experience.  Support comes from a group of experienced associate practitioners including counsel Miguel Ángel Rocha (corporate, labour and employment); principals Carlos Eduardo Gómez (corporate, banking & finance, ESG) and Rodrigo Durán de la Vega (banking & finance, M&A); and senior Gabriela Cosío (corporate and dispute resolution – particularly as regards the energy sector). The department’s industry expertise also encompasses financial services, infrastructure, technology, retail and telecommunications. Since publication, the firm has announced its absorption of Garrigues Mexico to become Garrigues Mexico Mexico - a process due for completion by December 2024.

Mexico > Life sciences Tier 3

A recognised market presence, Garrigues Mexico routinely assists clients in the pharma, chemical, cosmetics, tobacco, and food and beverage industries on a range of life science matters including regulatory, compliance, approvals, marketing, labelling and litigation. The practice is co-directed by José Alberto Campos-Vargas, who handles regulatory matters, international trade and administrative litigation; and Juan Luis Serrano, who has experience in government procurement and crossover IP matters. In addition, the pair can call on the expertise of senior associate Maria Luisa Mendoza López who handles international trade and has a particular focus on the import and export requirements for regulated products which correspond to the life sciences industry. Recent mandates range from winning patent extensions and contentious labelling matters in the pharma sector, to import regulatory matters for with regard to chemicals and dietary supplement ingredients, and post-transacional regulatory advice. Since publication, the firm has merged into Garrigues Mexico  local office to become Garrigues Mexico Mexico – effective as of July 2024.

Mexico > Real estate Tier 3

Praised as ‘client-oriented, offering practical solutions’, the team at Garrigues Mexico has significant expertise in real estate transactions, encompassing the acquisition and lease of industrial and retail properties, purchase and construction agreements, litigation, project finance and real estate matters for private equity funds. The practice is co-led by Rafael Villamar-Ramos (managing partner of the firm since July 2023), who is experienced in industrial, commercial and residential real estate acquisition and leasing transactions, and is lauded for his ‘excellent management skills’; and Diego Gómez-Haro, who majors on the structuring of investment vehicles, the leasing, acquisition and sale of real estate, the development and construction of projects, and related due diligence. Senior associate Alfredo Villarreal Hansmann, highlighted for being ‘always willing to go the extra mile’, specialises in lease agreements, acquisitions, and commercial, hospitality and residential projects. Since publication, the firm has announced it's merger into Garrigues Mexico local office to become Garrigues Mexico Mexico - effective as of July 2024.

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 4

Garrigues Mexico’s energy practice is now solely led by Jose Antonio Postigo-Uribe, following the departure of Gerardo Prado Hernández in April 2023. The strength of the department is lies foremost in regulatory advice and assistance with power purchase agreements; the firm’s client base in this segment includes generators, suppliers, traders, and final users in the electricity sector, as well as companies in the generation, transmission and distribution areas. Postigo-Uribe is a corporate and M&A expert with two decades’ experience acting for energy sector clients and has deep familiarity with the country’s regulatory landscape for energy matters. Associate José Antonio Téllez is valued by clients for his ‘extensive experience in the energy sector’, while senior associate Max Ernesto Hernández-Ernult regularly acts for domestic and international clients in transactional and regulatory energy sector matters.Led by well-known projects advisor David Jiménez Romero, the energy and natural resources department at Garrigues Mexico’s Mexico City office is part of the firm’s wider offering across Latin America, assisting international and local clients with project development, finance, cross-border transactions, government procurement, regulatory issues, and M&A. Regulatory and environmental law partner Roberto Torres Velasco departed the firm in May 2023.

Mexico > Projects and infrastructure Tier 4

The projects and infrastructure offering at the local office of Spanish firm Garrigues Mexico includes counsel on financing, public tenders and construction contracts, primarily for notable industry players in the energy, transportation, tourism and healthcare sectors. The practice is led by David Jiménez Romero, who specialises in public works, concessions, PPPs and project development. Key support is provided by senior associate Gabriela Cosio Patino, who assists with energy, healthcare and tourism projects; in September 2022 she was appointed to the ICC’s Global Arbitration Commission for a period of two years. Ex-practice co-head Roberto Torres left the firm in May 2023. Since publication, the firm has announced its absorption of Garrigues Mexico (a process due for completion by December 2024), thereby becoming Garrigues Mexico Mexico.

Mexico > Capital markets